Tech 21 Sansamp Paradriver DI

[nosoyninja]

Largely as a result of posts on this forum, I went ahead and acquired a Sansamp paradriver DI from Tech 21. I just wanted to share with you guys my complete and utter satisfaction! It's a great multi-function tool that is really more than the sum of it's parts.

So far I've played it through a Fishman loudbox artist, a fender champion 600, a Musicman 210, and direct to a mackie mixing board as well as a MOTU recording interface. I've played a standard american strat, a 69 reissue thinline telecaster, a takamine flat top with a piezo, a Gitane with a Stimer pickup AND a krivo pickup, an Epiphone Joe Pass and a fender P Bass.

As a parametric eq, it is very versatile and responsive. As mentioned in various posts here, a very minimal, milimetric move on the knobs will have a noticeable effect. And the mid-shift allows for addressing the most important and characteristic frequencies on the guitar.

The "Tube emulation", although a bit silly at extreme settings, is useful in moderation. Especially so when going direct to a mixing board or a recording interface. It also works in the manner described in the manual, to remove "piezo harshness", albeit in a contrived and processed way.

Some people have been recently discussing using PAs and other full range speakers for their live rigs. This little feller is a great tool for that application as well, working out impedance and ground issues in addition to powering itself from 48v phantom from the balanced output.

I tend to consider my gear -including guitars- as just tools. Some tools are good for some jobs, some are good for others. Some tools end up being used for all sorts of jobs regardless of the time and place. It looks like this Paradriver is one of these... With time, I have no doubt I will be able to use this guy and any amp/guitar combo in any room to sound the way I want to sound at that moment.

BTW, I'm not affiliated in anyway to Tech 21. Just a (so far) happy customer.

K

[Klatu]

I think it was Jack Zucker who was touting this device a while back. It seems like a versatile tool that has been accepted by the jazz community. The first time I saw (not heard) it used in a jazz context was in a Buscarino ad for their Chameleon speakers. Apparently, it was used to breath some tube life into an Acoustic Image Clarus.

Glad you've enjoyed your Paradriver DI.

[jorgemg1984]

I like mine a lot, specially the mids. The bass and treble could be more effective to me with both acoustics and electrics. My Shape eq is much better on that (but with less mids control)

I think jack reviewed a Barb eq.

[Steve Z]

Great review. Thanks.

I plan on getting one to use with my RE cabs and AI Clarus.

[Wildcat]

Thanks for the review. It really helps me in my search for help with the LR Bragg piezo saddle bridge that came with the Godin Montreal I just bought several weeks ago.

[GodinFan]

Thanks for the review. It really helps me in my search for help with the LR Bragg piezo saddle bridge that came with the Godin Montreal I just bought several weeks ago.

Try one of these:

Para DI | Preamps | LR Baggs

[Wildcat]

Try one of these:

Para DI | Preamps | LR Baggs

Thank you very much.
My head is spinning on all of the products out there. I did join the LR Braggs forum and posted there. I have not heard from anybody. But your recommendation based on your experince I would assume with Godin products is what I need to hear.

BTW I love the Montreal. I like as much as I like my Gibson 335 and probably more with time. Alot of bang for the buck!

[papaj77]

Got my ParaDriver DI few weeks ago and one think is sure this can make any guitar sound like you want it. Tried it with bunch a different guitars from jazz box to super fast floyd rose thing. This thing is amazing I use it with my old SS marshall into FX return so I can use reverb from the amp.
Best spent money ever.

[Klatu]

Have any of you who have experience with the Paradriver DI played through the Empress Paraeq? I would like to get the Paradriver mainly to control some of the boomy tones I get through my Evans and Acoustic Image Clarus, but I wonder if I'd have more control using the 3 parametric bands from the Empress than the 1 parametric mid control of the Paradriver.

I read someone who had an issue with noise when they powered their Paradriver with the phantom power. They mentioned that the signal became much less noisy when they powered up using an adapter. Have any of you had an issue using the phantom power from the Acoustic Image?

[nosoyninja]

I've had zero noise issues using phantom power to drive the device. In fact, I've used phantom power exclusively and never put in a battery at all. Zero noise...

I've tried full 48v from a mixer as well as 24v from my fishman amp and in both instances there is zero noticeable noise.

K

[Bushwackbob]

I do get a bit of background hiss while using phantom power (which is all I use) into an AI Ten2. I have to be careful between the relationship of the gain and level of the DI and the guitar setting. What am I doing wrong with my settings, nosoyninja?

[nosoyninja]

I do get a bit of background hiss while using phantom power (which is all I use) into an AI Ten2. I have to be careful between the relationship of the gain and level of the DI and the guitar setting. What am I doing wrong with my settings, nosoyninja?

There are too many variables to diagnose the source of hiss in your case. But a few common sense pointers:

- compare the noise level against the use of batteries
- input gain may be too high in the AI
- Output sensitivity (mic/line switch) maybe incorrectly set in the Paradriver...
- ground loop switch may be in the incorrect position
- try using a regular plug from the 1/4" output to one channel while powering the unit from the XLR connector in another channel but WITHOUT hearing the XLR channel

Hope this helps!

K

[Bushwackbob]

Thank you. I will try these. Otherwise love this box.

[jorgemg1984]

Have any of you who have experience with the Paradriver DI played through the Empress Paraeq? I would like to get the Paradriver mainly to control some of the boomy tones I get through my Evans and Acoustic Image Clarus, but I wonder if I'd have more control using the 3 parametric bands from the Empress than the 1 parametric mid control of the Paradriver.

I read someone who had an issue with noise when they powered their Paradriver with the phantom power. They mentioned that the signal became much less noisy when they powered up using an adapter. Have any of you had an issue using the phantom power from the Acoustic Image?

Fromel Shape EQ works much better than the Para DI to cut both boomy bass and sparkle treble. The empress parametric should be great to work on the mids but the fixed three positions of the Q take it some versatile and 3-bands is too much (for me). I use the Shape EQ for bass and treble and a 2-band fully parametric eq for the mids.

[Klatu]

Fromel Shape EQ works much better than the Para DI to cut both boomy bass and sparkle treble. The empress parametric should be great to work on the mids but the fixed three positions of the Q take it some versatile and 3-bands is too much (for me). I use the Shape EQ for bass and treble and a 2-band fully parametric eq for the mids.

Thanks. I've hesitated buying the Empress for some time because there just aren't any in my area to try out, and my local Guitar Center won't order one for me.

[jorgemg1984]

If you just want to cut boomy I really recommend the Fromel. If you have some friend that is good with electronics check the Ibanez PQ-L schematic: bass and treble from the Shape EQ plus a fully parametric 1-band eq. The Empress is overkill for your use but the Fromel is sort of expensive too... got mine used!

[Klatu]

I've got an Acoustic Image Clarus that I'd like to get more traditional amp tones out of. Can I get some of the treble sparkle of a tube amp and control boomy tones using the Sansamp Paradriver?

One of my frustrations in using the amp's eq is that if I turn down the bass to control boomy tones and cut down on feedback I end up thinning out the treble strings. Is it possible to dial in thick trebles while cutting some of the overwhelming bass with the Sansamp Paradriver?

[jorgemg1984]

That's precisely my issue with most bass knobs. In order to remove boomy you loose fat. The Fromel is much better than most amps on that but with some amps you still need a boost on 200hz to regain fatness.

My solution of that, as I said, was 2 pedals: Fromel for taming bass and treble and a 2-band fully parametric to boost some fat (200hz) and cut some ice pick (700hz).

I always used the Frome treble to cut, I never wanted the tube sparkle in my sound. The treble cut is aewsome, I can even use the tone knob at 10. I think for that Fender Sparkle the Barber Barb EQ should be very good but I doubt the bass knob is useful for cutting the boomy sounds.

Maybe e-mail Fromel and he will tell you how does the treble knob works as a booster for that Fender Benson sound.

[nosoyninja]

I've got an Acoustic Image Clarus that I'd like to get more traditional amp tones out of. Can I get some of the treble sparkle of a tube amp and control boomy tones using the Sansamp Paradriver?

One of my frustrations in using the amp's eq is that if I turn down the bass to control boomy tones and cut down on feedback I end up thinning out the treble strings. Is it possible to dial in thick trebles while cutting some of the overwhelming bass with the Sansamp Paradriver?

Well, my opinion is that you probably could control the frequencies you mention with some combination of the mid and bass control on the paradriver. But that won't necessarily make it sound like a tube amp...

K

[jorgemg1984]

Yes cutting with the Para DI mids on the 100hz / 150hz zone cuts boomy with my gear. I still have not found a setting of the tube emulation I liked... I use it mainly with acoustics to tell you the truth.